Council Candidate Profile: Mo Hill (R)

Editor's Note: Each of the six candidates running for three at-large seats on the Toms River township council responded to a questionnaire sent by Toms River Patch. Their answers to our questions will be published on our site verbatim. We have disabled comments on profile articles to ensure the candidates' statements speak for themselves and readers can decide, without additional, potentially anonymous commentary, their view on those running for office.

Maurice "Mo" Hill, Republican candidate for at-large council.

Biography: Maurice B. Hill, Jr.  64, Woodview Court Toms River, NJ.  Occupation: General Dentist

Please briefly explain what professional and civic/volunteer experience you have. Feel free to include job experience, awards, or schooling.

Served two terms as Councilman Ward 3 Toms River, NJ.  Selected to serve as Council President in June 2011.  Serves as  Commissioner, South Jersey Transportation Authority.  Retired Rear Admiral United States Navy served 35 years. Fellow in the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentists International and the Academy of General Dentistry.  Graduated University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Dental School with Honors in December 1972,  Elected to the Lakewood High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2001.  Received the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004 (only the 4th Dentist in the school's history to receive this award).  Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rutgers Football Letter winners Association in 2010.

What are your key concerns about Toms River?

To maintain the high quality of municipal services in the Township in a cost effective and efficient manner. To enhance the recreational facilities within the Township.  To be good stewards of the taxpayers dollars and keep the Township tax rate among the lowest in the State.

What issues do you hope to address? 

  To maintain the excellent quality of life for the taxpayers of Toms River while controlling costs and taxes.

 What do you think should be done to resolve those issues?

  We have excellent department heads and employees within the Township and we are constantly assessing the way we provide municipal services to our residents.  We continue to be innovative and look for ways to control and reduce costs.  (Example:  automated recycling every 2 weeks has drastically reduced costs while increasing our revenues from recycling.  Toms River has the highest recycling of any Township in the County.  We received over $186,000 for the first six months of 2011 in revenues from recycling while decreasing our landfill fees).

How do you plan to serve the council and the residents of Toms River in a meaningful way?

I have represented Ward 3 for the past 8 years and look forward to the opportunity to expand my responsibilities and represent the entire Township.  I feel I have been effective in representing the concerns and issues of the residents of Ward 3 during my term in office and look forward to the challenges ahead in these difficult economic times. 

What motivated you to run this year?

  I feel I have demonstrated good leadership qualities in both my military and civilian service to my country and community.  We face challenges as we try to maintain the quality of municipal services and facilities in this difficult economic environment.  The Mayor and Council have worked in harmony over the past 4 years to address these issues in a cost effective manner.  If elected I am confident we will be able to continue to provide the high quality of life our residents deserve while controlling costs. 

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